The Perfect Pistol for a Beginner

[AustinBoy]

I am looking for the perfect pistol for a beginner.

I would like a .22 semi-auto.

I am looking for something very accurate but at the same time light weight and with a small grip.

My first two shooters will be my wife and 8 year old little girl so the grip size is very important.

From a web search, I am looking at a walther maybe?

Looking for recommendations!

Thanks
Austinboy

[74novaman]

Ruger mark 2 or 3 and if weight is a concern, with a pac-lite barrel.

[Divided Attention]

We really enjoy the Sig 1911-22 - it runs like our "big guns", so is great for practice drills and much cheaper to shoot than the 9mm's. It is basically the same as the GSG 1911-22. Mags are interchangeable, only difference are the markings on the firearms. Good luck on your search.

[atxtj]

Ruger mark 2 or 3 and if weight is a concern, with a pac-lite barrel.

Yep, it's what I grew up on, still own my Grandfathers MK1 bought new in 1959. Wonderful pistols to shoot.

[ddurkof]

Ruger or a Browning Buckmark are great starters.

[Scott in Houston]

I like the Browning because it's everything the Ruger is, but not a total pain in the bahonkas to assemble after cleaning!

[punkndisorderly]

I second the river mk series or browning buckmark. In the Ruger, either the standard or 22/45 version are good. The grip size and angle is the main difference. Steer clear of the heavy bull barrel versions. They can be fatiguing to shoot for long periods for people with less arm strength (heavy). Ruger mk series can also be locked with a common padlock and magazines and upgrade parts are easy to come by.

They get a bad rap for being difficult to take down and put back together. I don't find it difficult or a pain once you know the "tricks". Find a good youtue video, watch it, take it apart and reassemble along with the video, then repeat 5 or 10 times. You'll be good from there on. This from someone who brought his first one back to the gunshop in pieces in a paper bag (used with no manual and before internet). I'd put it on par with some 1911's or my semi auto 22 rifles in terms of difficulty..

[punkndisorderly]

One thing I forgot to mention, the Ruger and buckmark have a reputation for not being picky about ammo and lasting forever. Something that can't be said for many of the other common. 22's .

[RECIT]

I own a buckmark hunter model and a Ruger 22/45 target model. Both have bull barrels and adjustable sights. I like the buckmark a lot more personally. I like the grip angle better, the grip material better, and the slide is easier to manipulate than the Ruger for me. Mine also came with fiber optic front and rear sights so that is a plus to me over the Ruger. Both were $299 +tax. I also have had a Walther P22 and still own a Sig Mosquito...but I would not wish the Mosquito on my worst enemy unless he was after me. Its horribly unreliable and very ammo sensitive. The Walther was a good gun, but not my favorite.

[Middle Age Russ]

Find a gun store or gun show where the intended users can look at and grip the guns. Inexperienced users can easily be turned off if initiated with an ill fitting gun. There are many .22 LR autoloading pistols available, but grip size/shape/angle will vary dramatically between them. FWIW, here is my take on several of them. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Beretta Neos -- Interesting design. Very angled grip and smallish grip circumference. Overall seems to have good accuracy and reliability

Browning Buckmark -- Possibly better ergos than the Ruger (some of which have a more angled grip and a heel release magazine) and mid-size grip, reportedly good reliability and accuracy.

GSG/SIG 1911-22: Looks, feels and runs like regular 1911, but takes down differently. Good accuracy and good reliability.

SIG Mosquito: Downsized version of full-size SIG pistols, with conventional grip angle and mid-sized grip. Reportedly a bit finicky with ammo.

Ruger Mk I, Mk II, Mk III: More angled grip than Buckmark and many others, maybe not as angled as Neos. Mid-size grip with factory grip panels. Good accuracy and reliability. Heel magazine release. Unique and peculiar takedown procedure.

Ruger 22/45: Conventional grip angle and mid size grip. Otherwise same as rest of the Ruger Mk series.

S&W 22A: Conventional grip angle but largish grip. Peculiar front of grip magazine release. Good accuracy and reliability.

Walther P22: Conventional grip angle and smallish grip. Good accuracy but finicky with ammo.

[The Annoyed Man]

I like the Browning because it's everything the Ruger is, but not a total pain in the bahonkas to assemble after cleaning!

I haven't been able to see my bahonkas in years, but you're right....the Ruger is a pain to reassemble. My answer is: "Don't take it apart in the first place!"

I run a patch down the bore. I take solvent and brush to the inside of the receiver. I oil everything including the bolt. I wipe it down and put it away. I don't bother trying to reassemble it anymore. It takes 2 minutes to take it apart, and 2 days to put it back together.

That said, mine is the Stainless Hunter: http://ruger.com/products/2245Hunter/models.html. Mine is a slightly older model with a 4.5" barrel....which appears to no longer be in the catalog....and which has the black grips with the red eagle on them. In any case, the barrels are actually very light weight, despite their burly appearance. And the fiberoptic front sight is a nice touch, when matched to a fully adjustable rear sight. I bought mine at the Ft Worth gunshow a couple of years ago. I think I paid about $280-$300 for it, if I recall correctly. Anyway, it is a very nice, accurate pistol. I've used it a number of times to teach beginner shooters, most of whom were women. Recoil, like most pistols in this class, is negligable.

[Rex B]

I typed and sent a long detailed post, which appears to have vaporized.
Short version: Walther P22 is a favorite of females, lightweight with adjustable grip inserts.
Also consider a SA revolver, and let them alternate. My daughter liked the western-style revolver.

[aaangel]

I am looking for something very accurate

in that case browning and ruger ..... they will eat anything you feed them. even those 500 bulk .22's

i try to stay away from 22's that have a full slide.

[RoyGBiv]

I haven't been able to see my bahonkas in years, but you're right....the Ruger is a pain to reassemble. My answer is: "Don't take it apart in the first place!"

I run a patch down the bore. I take solvent and brush to the inside of the receiver. I oil everything including the bolt. I wipe it down and put it away. I don't bother trying to reassemble it anymore. It takes 2 minutes to take it apart, and 2 days to put it back together.

As much as I am ashamed to admit it, I have a Ruger that's about 20 years old and until a few months ago I had never taken it apart. I cleaned it after each use, pretty much as TAM describes. It's never given me a lick of trouble and consistently shoots the cheapest ammo I can find to feed into it.

Finally, after a ~750 round day with my kid, all non-jacketed ammo, the poor Ruger was starting to see some fail-to-feeds. It was ugly-dirty inside and I decided it was time for the kid to learn gun cleaning. Thankfully, I still had the original manual or I might never have gotten the thing apart. Reassembly wasn't too terrible.... I wouldn't be too shy about doing it again in another 20 years.



I will say that the Ruger is heavy. My kids started out shooting from a bench rest (I liked that idea anyways, for safety), then moved to a few shots at a time from a Weaver..

[Zylo_X]

As stated above, the Walther P22 is a good shooter, and functions more like a 'real' gun for practice, especially easier take down for cleaning. As I researched, I found all kinds of 'horror' stories in reviews about the take down of all the other 22s. My recently acquired P22 has about 1k rounds (mostly Federal 550 'bulk pack') through it with no issues. If you want better accuracy for target shooting, I would suggest the 5" barrel, but I'm happy with the 3" version, and they are available to interchange if you'd like 2 guns for 1;) Be sure to get the newer 'Q' version (no lock). My only real gripe is the safety... it's slide mounted and 'UP' is 'Fire', down is 'Safe', OPPOSITE from everything else I have :( All the other makes are fine shooters as well, but I was looking to keep my 'practice' as consistent to 'real world' as possible. Its just a shade smaller than my Ruger SR9C, and may become my BUG, as I have been so discouraged with the offerings in 380. Otherwise, I really enjoy the cost savings over 45 and 9mm even for 'practice' ammo.